Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has today April 9, 2025 during his Jukwaa la Usalama Nationwide Tour in Kilifi County has appealed to families who had lost their loved ones in the Shakahola massacre tied with the controversial Pastor Mackenzie to urgently submit DNA samples to aid in the ongoing identification process.
Speaking after a security meeting in Kilifi County on Thursday, the CS said investigation has been delayed by families who are yet to provide samples, this delay he said has hindered efforts to deliver justice and closure to affected families.
“We are committed to expediting the investigations, and the Government Chemist is seeking samples for DNA matching, We therefore call for full cooperation to obtain the right samples. Only a few people have come forward despite many still missing their loved ones,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen further confirmed that this identification will also pave the way for the government to establish a memorial site for the unidentified victims buried in shallow graves in Shakahola forest, a part of Chakama Ranch in Kilifi County.
In the ongoing manslaughter case, Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church is accused of ordering his followers to starve themselves and their children to death in the belief that such an action would enable them to go to heaven.
He acknowledged that financial constraints have also contributed to the delays but revealed that the government is seeking a one-off budget to conclude the investigation within the next three to four months.
“Whether it was an act of omission or commission by security officers between 2020 and 2021, those culpable will be held accountable, Governments act in perpetuity, and it is regrettable that someone received intelligence and failed to act on it,”CS Murkomen regretted.
The Interior CS has now asked the public to act on their civic duty of alerting authorities about any suspicious activities, noting that timely information could have saved the lives.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of police officers and administrators, including modernizing their workstations, revealing that nearly half of police stations and 40% of National Government Administrative Offices (NGAOs) lack official vehicles and motocycles which they are in the process of acquiring upto 5000.
Murkomen also confirmed that planned recruitment of 10,000 police officers will help in addressing the staffing gaps, improving security, and further enabling proper officer rotation, particularly in high-risk border areas.
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